Bill Text: IL HR0883 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Declares February 7, 2018 as National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the State of Illinois.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-05-17 - Resolution Adopted [HR0883 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HR0883-Introduced.html

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HR0883 LRB100 20954 MST 36550 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, February 7, 2018 is the 17th annual commemoration
and observance of National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness
Day; and
WHEREAS, This observance is a nationwide effort to mobilize
African-American communities to get educated, tested,
involved, and treated for HIV/AIDS, as it continues to
devastate African-American communities; and
WHEREAS, National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
is directed, planned, and strategically implemented by
HIV/AIDS organizations to mobilize community-based
organizations and stakeholders involved in HIV/AIDS
prevention, care, and treatment; and
WHEREAS, African-Americans account for 46.8% of people
living with HIV, although they represent just 12% of the United
States population; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 43,000 residents of Illinois are living
with HIV (including the undiagnosed) and 52% of people newly
diagnosed with HIV are African-American; and
WHEREAS, Young African-American gay men under the age of 30

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in Chicago have an infection rate three times greater than
their white counterparts; and
WHEREAS, At the current rate of infection, nationally 1 in
4 gay African-American men will become HIV-positive by the time
they are 25, and 1 in 2 will have HIV by the time they are 35;
and
WHEREAS, Of those African-Americans that are HIV-positive,
fewer than half are prescribed antiretroviral therapy (HIV
medication), and just 37% reach viral suppression; and
WHEREAS, Over two-thirds of women diagnosed with HIV in the
United States are African-American; Center for Disease Control
data reports that by race/ethnicity, African-American
transgender women have the highest percentage of new HIV
positive test results; and
WHEREAS, HIV medications taken daily (Pre-Exposure
Prophylaxis or PrEP) have a greater than 90% chance of
preventing HIV infection in people who are HIV-negative, but
awareness of PrEP and access to PrEP is low in the most
vulnerable communities; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly and administration
failed to transfer money to the African-American American

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HIV/AIDS Response Fund resulting in an inability to make grants
to organizations focused on fighting the epidemic in the
African-American community; and
WHEREAS, Numerous organizations, faith-based institutions,
public health entities, and impacted citizens are hosting
community events to recognize this day and its importance to
African-Americans and all concerned citizens; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting that we join with these local,
national, and international groups to express our strong
support for National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
and the initiatives to prevent HIV/AIDS in African-American
communities and provide access to and utilization of HIV/AIDS
prevention, treatment, and support services to those affected
by HIV/AIDS; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
declare February 7, 2018 as National African-American HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day in Illinois, and encourage local residents to
strongly support this day and participate in events planned to
commemorate the occasion.